A woman at a gas station in Washington, D.C. says she witnessed what appeared to be an attempt to steal gasoline from another customer. She recorded the incident on video after noticing a man allegedly trying to use a gas pump that had already been activated by someone who had gone inside the station to pay. The clip has since gone viral, drawing attention to a scam some viewers said they had worried about before.
The video was posted by TikTok creator @justthedeeway, who typically shares content about her life as a flight attendant. However, one recent stop at a gas station turned into unexpected viral content after she documented what she believed was an attempted gas theft while she and her husband were filling up their vehicle.
In the video, the Washington, D.C. woman says she noticed a man repeatedly pressing buttons on a gas pump while acting suspiciously. According to her, she believed he was attempting to bypass the payment system so he could activate the pump without paying. It is unclear whether that method actually works or whether the man was trying something else.
The man then walks to another pump where a vehicle had been left unattended after its owner went inside the station to pay for fuel. Moments later, another vehicle driven by a woman pulls up beside him, and he appears ready to use the unattended pump to fill her gas tank instead.
The situation changes when the owner of the vehicle returns from inside the station. As the man begins speaking with the vehicle’s owner, the creator opens her car door and tells him that the pair had allegedly been trying to take his gas. The man appears to deny the accusation, but the creator continues confronting him before telling him to “get a job.”
The video does not show whether any gasoline was ultimately taken, and it remains unclear whether the pair successfully obtained fuel without paying. The footage also does not include any response from law enforcement or the individuals involved.
Washington, D.C. Woman Earns Online Praise
The video’s comment section was largely supportive of the Washington, D.C. woman, with many viewers praising her for speaking up instead of ignoring what she believed was an attempted theft. At the same time, several commenters urged her to be careful, warning that confronting strangers at a gas station could quickly become dangerous.
Many users also said the incident reinforced why they never leave their vehicles unattended while fueling up. Others said they prefer paying directly at the pump or using membership-only gas stations because they believe those locations are less likely to experience similar incidents. “And this is why I only pay at the pump. If the pump isn’t working, I’m driving to the next gas station,” one user wrote.
Other viewers found humor in the suspects’ apparent lack of urgency, joking that they took so long they were almost guaranteed to get caught. Several also praised the Washington, D.C. woman’s quick reaction and entertaining commentary, while others joked that high gas prices had apparently inspired people to come up with increasingly creative ways to avoid paying.
If nothing else, the video reminded viewers that sometimes the most expensive part of filling up isn’t the gas, it’s taking your eyes off the pump for a minute.
